period correct front spoiler for a Sonett V4

[formulasaab]

OK, so I've been talking to one of the board members of the VRG (Vintage Racer Group) about my wish for a front spoiler on Dad's Sonett (SONEAT). See, any time I have to turn in the upper ranges of 3rd gear or anywhere in 4th... I get massive understeer due to aerodynamic lift at the front end. Just a little front spoiler would make a huge difference.

According to my board member friend... There is historical precedent for a front spoiler in the 1968 timeframe!

This is good news. He claims that I could have gone down to the corner speedshop and picked a small fiberglass front spoiler off the shelf.

Likely I will make it so there are no new holes in the fiberglass and it is easily removable for the lower speed tracks (to return the car to it's more original appearance). But for the kink on the back straight of BeaverRun and the uphill esses at VIR... I sure would like to add this thingie!

But I have to either find one from that time, or find a good picture of an example so that I can fabricate something similar.

It need not be for a Sonett necessarily... It could be for a Z-car, or anything else with a similar nose profile... But it has to be period correct. No billboards made of riveted rubber or pavement shaving IMSA wannabees.

Seen anything that sounds like what I want to see?

[Luke]

I do seem to recall seeing pictures of sonett's with chin spoilers before. Unless you can find an old one to pull a mold off your best bet would be to get blocks of sanding foam and glue up a rough interpretation of one and then sand it until its got all the contours you want, finishing the surface with bondo and then waxing it heavily. Then pull a mold off that. Thats basically the process I used for my dash panel except its a much simpler shape.

[99Super]

Stefan;
There was a very narrow Z-car spoiler that I have read works very well, at least on the SIII's. They even have holes for brake ducts. I have some photos around of a Vette-powered Z using one. I think they are relatively inexpensive as well...
What happened to Chris' vintagesaab.com/forums site?

john

[formulasaab]

I do seem to recall seeing pictures of sonett's with chin spoilers before. Unless you can find an old one to pull a mold off your best bet would be to get blocks of sanding foam and glue up a rough interpretation of one and then sand it until its got all the contours you want, finishing the surface with bondo and then waxing it heavily. Then pull a mold off that. Thats basically the process I used for my dash panel except its a much simpler shape.

My thoughts exactly. I was hoping to find a simple solution, but I expect it will come down to having to start from scratch.

[formulasaab]

Stefan;
There was a very narrow Z-car spoiler that I have read works very well, at least on the SIII's. They even have holes for brake ducts. I have some photos around of a Vette-powered Z using one. I think they are relatively inexpensive as well...

What I need is like a 1968 JC Whitney catalog!
Or, maybe they still carry that stuff? I haven't looked at a JCW catalog in probably a decade.

What happened to Chris' vintagesaab.com/forums site?

john

Server crash. Lost all the data. Chris didn't have the heart to rebuild.